A/N: This story begins after Christine kisses Erik. This is an alternate ending to the 2004 movie.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Phantom of the Opera, they belong to Susan Kay, ALW, Gaston Leroux and anyone else I forgot at the moment.
Without further ado, I give you Chapter One!
Chapter One:Hope
Christine looked up into the eyes of her angel and saw how hurt he felt. She had betrayed him by helping in trying to catch him. She had agreed to marry the Vicomte behind his back, and now she was standing before him after giving him two loving kisses. Tears were streaming down his cheeks and he was just looking down at her, regrettting every wrong thing he had done to her. Shouting could be heard in the distance and he knew that if he let them leave now that they might escape.
He dropped the rope that was around Raoul's neck and started to wade out of the lake, telling them to leave him and never come back. Christine could only stand there dumbfounded. She didn't move to go untie Raoul, but turned to see where Erik had gone to. She walked silently into the room to hear him softly singing to his music box. She felt tears slide down her porceline white cheeks as she heard the sadness in his voice. His tear streaked face looked up at her and she knew that she wasn't meant to be with Raoul, but was meant for her angel.
"Christine, I love you," he sung very softly. Looking down at the ring on her finger, she walked over to him. His gaze never left her face as she picked up his hand, cradling it in her small one. He stared at their hands as she entwined her fingers with his. Pulling him to a standing position, she kissed him with more passion then ever before.
When she broke the kiss due to lack of air, all he could do was stare at her. Wrapping his arms around her, he finally got to hold her in his strong embrace. Erik nuzzled his face into her hair, breathing in the scent of lavender. He felt new tears coming and he didn't stop them, knowing that any moment she would break away and run back to her precious Vicomte. He didn't care, wanting to enjoy the closeness while it lasted.
xXx
Back at the lake where Raoul was still tied up, the Vicomte was confused. Why had Chrisitne not came and untied him? Where was she? He struggled against the bounds that held him to the gate. The mob was approaching and if he didn't take Christine away from this place they would find them. Little did he know that Christine didn't want to go with him, she wanted to stay with Erik. He called out to her in hopes that she could hear him.
Erik heard his call and looked at Chrisitne with pain filled eyes. He was shocked to see her smiling up at him. "Go to him, Christine. I don't diserve you," he finally choked out. By the stunned look on her face, he could tell she didn't like the order. "No, I'm not leaving you!" she said, resting her hand on his chest. She could tell he was near tears, but she didn't want to leave him.
"Well, his screaming will tell the mob where we are," he said, trying to compose himself. She nodded but a frown creased her brow. "Christine?" Erik asked in a small voice, scared that she was rethinking her decision. "I don't know your name," she said in a small voice. He smiled at her through his tears. "My name is Erik, Erik Noir." She smiled and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before bringing him out of the room and back out to the lake where Raoul was screaming.
A relieved look crossed his face as he saw his beloved Christine. It was quickly replaced by anger when he saw Erik wrap his arm around her waist protectively. He struggled against the rope that held him and Christine looked up at Erik, who walked over and cut them. Raoul lunged at him, but Erik was too quick. He had the rope around his neck in an instance.
Christine gasped, she had not been exspecting that. Erik made sure not to kill him, he wouldn't unless Christine wanted him to. "Listen, boy, if you ever show your face here again, you'll die," he said. Raoul looked at Christine, wondering why she didn't try to help him. "I won't leave Christine!" he said, trying to get the rope off of his neck, but to no avail. Erik tightened it, angry he didn't just give up.
Christine sighed and felt tears slide down her cheek. This would be the last time she saw her childhood sweetheart. "Raoul, do what he says. I want to stay here, I-I love him," she said, the last part a whisper. He heard it. "What!" he roared, angry at Erik. "So, this monster still has you under his spell? Is that what I'm hearing?" he said, not exspecting Christine to do what she did next. She walked up to him and slapped him.
Everyone just stood there in shock. Christine's eyes held anger and bitterness towards Raoul as she said, "He is no monster. He is more of a man then you will ever be." Erik felt his heart fill with joy when Chrisitne said that. He knew that she wasn't lying when she said she loved him. Raoul felt tears slide down his cheek. Why had his Little Lottie just insulted him so? He looked into her eyes and didn't see the loving ones that he had seen on the rooftop. No, these ones were cold and heartless.
He looked over at Erik and nodded, telling Erik to release him. He wasn't about to give up on her, not yet. He scampered off, away from the Phantom and Christine. He was going to tell the mob to go somewhere else by misleading them. He wasn't going to allow them to hurt Christine for trying to protect him. He ran off and did exactly what he had planned.
